Troutnut.com Fly Fishing for Trout Home
User Password
or register.
Scientific name search:

Spring break-up on the Tanana River



By Troutnut on April 26th, 2014
My wife and I checked out the Tanana for burbot this weekend, just a day or two after the Nenana Ice Classic tripod fell, indicating that the ice went out about fifty miles downstream. We found no sign of fish at the first spot we tried, which had open water with ice chunks floating around. At the second spot, we caught the ice break-up in action--a spectacular show to watch.

Videos by Troutnut from the Tanana River in Alaska

Spring break-up on the Tanana River near Fairbanks
On April 26, 2014, we caught the last of the contiguous ice across the Tanana River near Fairbanks breaking up and washing away.
StateAlaska
LocationTanana River
Date ShotApr 26, 2014
Date AddedMay 4, 2014
AuthorTroutnut
CameraNikon P7700

Photos by Troutnut from the Tanana River in Alaska

View Full SizeView Full Size and Comment (2.6X larger)
Add
The last contiguous ice on the Tanana near town. On the right side of the photo, the river's original ice still extends all the way across. A rapid flow of water and ice is pushing in toward it from the left. Moments later, the original ice gave way and opened up a free-flowing channel packed with truck-sized icebergs. From the Tanana River in Alaska.
The last contiguous ice on the Tanana near town. On the right side of the photo, the river's original ice still extends all the way across. A rapid flow of water and ice is pushing in toward it from the left. Moments later, the original ice gave way and opened up a free-flowing channel packed with truck-sized icebergs.
StateAlaska
LocationTanana River
Date TakenApr 26, 2014
Date AddedApr 29, 2014
AuthorTroutnut
CameraNikon Coolpix P7700
View Full SizeView Full Size and Comment (2.6X larger)
Add
Break-up on the Tanana From the Tanana River in Alaska.
Break-up on the Tanana
StateAlaska
LocationTanana River
Date TakenApr 26, 2014
Date AddedApr 29, 2014
AuthorTroutnut
CameraNikon Coolpix P7700
View Full SizeView Full Size and Comment (2.6X larger)
Add
Break-up on the Tanana From the Tanana River in Alaska.
Break-up on the Tanana
StateAlaska
LocationTanana River
Date TakenApr 26, 2014
Date AddedApr 29, 2014
AuthorTroutnut
CameraNikon Coolpix P7700
View Full SizeView Full Size and Comment (2.6X larger)
Add
Trying for burbot. I've taken a few small ones on setlines in this eddy in the past, but never tried on rod and reel. There were no takers. From the Tanana River in Alaska.
Trying for burbot. I've taken a few small ones on setlines in this eddy in the past, but never tried on rod and reel. There were no takers.
StateAlaska
LocationTanana River
Date TakenApr 26, 2014
Date AddedApr 29, 2014
AuthorTroutnut
CameraNikon Coolpix P7700
View Full SizeView Full Size and Comment (2.6X larger)
Add
Ice piled up on the Tanana From the Tanana River in Alaska.
Ice piled up on the Tanana
StateAlaska
LocationTanana River
Date TakenApr 26, 2014
Date AddedApr 29, 2014
AuthorTroutnut
CameraNikon Coolpix P7700
«Older: Spring is finally comingNewer: Finally, fly fishing!»

Most recent comments on this post (latest on top)

TaxonMay 5th, 2014, 11:54 am
Site Editor
Royse City, TX

Posts: 1350
I added a short video of the ice crashing down the Tanana. It's an impressive sight.


Wow, that's an amazing sight, Jason. Thank you for sharing it.
Best regards,
Roger Rohrbeck
www.FlyfishingEntomology.com
PaulRobertsMay 4th, 2014, 9:43 pm
Colorado

Posts: 1776		Very cool. Thanks for sharing that clip, Jason.

Lake Ontario's post-breakup could be exciting some years. Ah! And I remember the first time I heard big lakes "making ice". A long way from shore, sitting on a bucket, and BA-BOOM! Sounding like thunder. I'd stand up -fast!- and look all around with my heart pounding, half expecting a Kraken to take me to see Davy Jones. But after having drilled through over 2ft of ice, I knew that wasn't likely. But my adrenals weren't so sure!
TroutnutMay 4th, 2014, 4:38 pm
Administrator
Bellevue, WA

Posts: 2737		I added a short video of the ice crashing down the Tanana. It's an impressive sight.
Jason Neuswanger, Ph.D.
Troutnut and salmonid ecologist

Comment on this post

You must log in at the top of the page to post. If you haven't registered yet, it's this easy:

Username:          Email:

Password:    Confirm Password:

I am at least 13 years old and agree to the rules.
Top 10 Fly Hatches
BaetisBaetidaeEphemerellidaeHexagenia limbataChironomidaeHeptageniidaeEphemerella subvariaEphemerellaIsonychiaHydropsychidae
Top Gift Shop Designs
I outfish my daddy!Electric blue Hendrickson dun.I love buggers. Big, green, wooly ones.I outfish my husband!Be the trout.
Eat mayflies.
Top Insect Specimens
Baetisca obesa Mayfly NymphNeophylax Caddisfly AdultCorydalus Hellgrammite LarvaRhyacophila fuscula Caddisfly LarvaBaetis Mayfly Dun
Miscellaneous Sites
Dalton Highway (Haul Road) Corridor Map